Australia coach Justin Langer says his decision to skip January’s ODI tour of India was a case of him needing to recharge his batteries and walk the talk.
Langer has spent close to 18 months on the road, dating back to a UAE tour at the start of last summer and including the World Cup and Ashes campaigns.
Australia still have tours of New Zealand and South Africa to come this summer after the India series.
With this in mind, Langer will stay home in Perth and hand the coaching baton to assistant Andrew McDonald for the tour of India.
Langer enjoyed a similar taste of life in the hot seat in 2016 when then-coach Darren Lehmann gave him the reins for a tri-series in the West Indies.
He said it was now a perfect chance to do the same for McDonald and also recharge his own batteries at home.
“I can’t be telling all our staff to look after themselves and make sure you have time to recharge and have time with your family and then not do it myself,” Langer said of his decision.
“Otherwise I’d be a hypocrite. This is a really good opportunity with three one-dayers in 10 days.
“And the other part of it is I can’t also be wanting to give people opportunities and not give them opportunities.
“I had the opportunity to do it in the West Indies when Darren Lehmann had a short break.
“So it’s going to be a really good opportunity for Andrew McDonald and Graeme Hick and a couple of other guys who are going to help out too.
“Part of leadership is walking the talk and I can’t just talk a good game and not do it.”
Langer’s decision might spark previous debate about whether the head coaching role should be split across the various formats given the hectic demands of international cricket.